--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea that the poor should have…" description: "\"The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich.\" — Bertrand Russell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/bertrand-russell-69_ideas_the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisu_124892.jpg" --- # The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been… ![“The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/bertrand-russell-69_ideas_the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisu_124892.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/bertrand-russell-69_ideas_the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisu_124892.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/bertrand-russell-69_ideas_the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisu_124892.jpg) > “The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich.” [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The notion that the impoverished deserve leisure challenges the wealthy’s expectation that work is a moral virtue tied to status. **In simple terms:** Leisure for the poor unsettles the rich. Key Takeaway Leisure rights clash with class norms. Themes social inequality leisure class philosophy Mood critical thought‑provoking Type social critique philosophical When to use this quote - minimum‑wage debates - universal basic income - work‑life balance policies - labor union negotiations Key Concepts economic justice Practical Applications - Advocate for reduced work hours - Implement fair wage standards Questions to Reflect On - What societal benefits arise from broader leisure access? - How can leisure be framed as productive for all classes? A Different Perspective Leisure without productive engagement may be socially stigmatized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Poverty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poverty/) ## Related quotes > [For my part, the thing I would wish to obtain from money would be leisure with security. But what the typical modern man desires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/for-my-part-the-thing-i-would-wish-to-obtain-from-money-would-be/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The first step in a fascist movement is the combination under an energetic leader of a number of men who possess more than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-first-step-in-a-fascist-movement-is-the-combination-under-an/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The wise use of leisure, it must be conceded, is a product of civilization and education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-wise-use-of-leisure-it-must-be-conceded-is-a-product-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Modern technique has made it possible for leisure, within limits, to be not the prerogative of small privileged classes, but a right evenly distributed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/modern-technique-has-made-it-possible-for-leisure-within-limits-to-be/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The thing that I should wish to obtain from money would be leisure with security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-thing-that-i-should-wish-to-obtain-from-money-would-be-leisure/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization, and at present very few people have reached this level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/to-be-able-to-fill-leisure-intelligently-is-the-last-product-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If the ordinary wage-earner worked four hours a day, there would be enough for everybody and no unemployment -- assuming a certain very moderate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-ordinary-wage-earner-worked-four-hours-a-day-there-would-be/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If the ordinary wage-earner worked four hours a day, there would be enough for everybody, and no unemployment — assuming a certain very moderate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-ordinary-wage-earner-worked-four-hours-a-day-there-would-be-2/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [What will be the good of the conquest of leisure and health, if no one remembers how to use them?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/what-will-be-the-good-of-the-conquest-of-leisure-and-health-if-no-one/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Aristotle, in spite of his reputation, is full of absurdities. He says that children should be conceived in the Winter, when the wind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/aristotle-in-spite-of-his-reputation-is-full-of-absurdities-he-says/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [When it gets difficult is often right before you succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-walker/when-it-gets-difficult-is-often-right-before-you-succeed/) Jeffrey Walker > [Tell people what specific action to take.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-abraham/tell-people-what-specific-action-to-take/) [Jay Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-abraham/) > [“In some circles, to not have seen The Wire had become a shocking breach of social protocol.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-martin/in-some-circles-to-not-have-seen-the-wire-had-become-a-shocking/) Brett Martin > [It's shocking when someone who is really bad thinks they're really good. It's heartbreaking, because singing is such a vulnerable thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-camp/it-s-shocking-when-someone-who-is-really-bad-thinks-they-re-really/) [Anna Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-camp/) > [Becoming famous is a really shocking thing, especially when you don't have aspirations to it. It got to the point where I would try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/becoming-famous-is-a-really-shocking-thing-especially-when-you-don-t/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) ## More by Bertrand Russell > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [All movements go too far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/all-movements-go-too-far/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Those who advocate common usage in philosophy sometimes speak in a manner that suggests the mystique of the 'common man.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/those-who-advocate-common-usage-in-philosophy-sometimes-speak-in-a/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Such, in outline, but even more purposeless, more void of meaning, is the world which Science presents for our belief. Amid such a world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/such-in-outline-but-even-more-purposeless-more-void-of-meaning-is-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Dr. Arnold . . . the admired reformer of public schools, came across some cranks who thought it a mistake to flog boys. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/dr-arnold-the-admired-reformer-of-public-schools-came-across-some/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Of all evils of war the greatest is the purely spiritual evil: the hatred, the injustice, the repudiation of truth, the artificial conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/of-all-evils-of-war-the-greatest-is-the-purely-spiritual-evil-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/aristotle-maintained-that-women-have-fewer-teeth-than-men-although-he/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-an-opinion-contrary-to-your-own-makes-you-angry-that-is-a-sign/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I cannot escape from the conclusion that the great ages of progress have depended upon a small number of individuals of transcendent ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-cannot-escape-from-the-conclusion-that-the-great-ages-of-progress/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-think-it-would-be-just-to-say-the-most-essential-characteristic-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [The newspapers at one time said that I was dead but after carefully examining the evidence I came to the conclusion that this statement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-newspapers-at-one-time-said-that-i-was-dead-but-after-carefully/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Persecution is used in theology, not in arithmetic, because in arithmetic there is knowledge, but in theology there is only opinion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/persecution-is-used-in-theology-not-in-arithmetic-because-in/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“Many orthodox people speak as though it were the business of sceptics to disprove received dogmas rather than of dogmatists to prove them. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/many-orthodox-people-speak-as-though-it-were-the-business-of-sceptics/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [There is no greater reason for children to honour parents than for parents to honour children except, that while the children are young, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-no-greater-reason-for-children-to-honour-parents-than-for/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) [Explore all 1,620 Bertrand Russell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) ## More Ideas quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/) [Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It revealed a cruelty that really made one wonder if the universe was such a good idea after all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-lindsay/it-revealed-a-cruelty-that-really-made-one-wonder-if-the-universe-was/) [Jeff Lindsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-lindsay/) > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But I already saw no great difference between the psyche and spirituality. To amass knowledge without becoming wise is not my idea of progress…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/but-i-already-saw-no-great-difference-between-the-psyche-and/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [Making movies seemed so impossible as far as getting my ideas funded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boots-riley/making-movies-seemed-so-impossible-as-far-as-getting-my-ideas-funded/) [Boots Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boots-riley/) > [I am not the avant-garde. I am the artist who comes after the advancing guard. I am more concerned with continuity of ideas and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-oliveira/i-am-not-the-avant-garde-i-am-the-artist-who-comes-after-the/) [Nathan Oliveira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-oliveira/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) [Browse all 24,908 Ideas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bertrand Russell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisure-has-always-been-shocking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ideas" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisure-has-always-been-shocking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/bertrand-russell-69_ideas_the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisu_124892.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/bertrand-russell-69_ideas_the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisu_124892.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/bertrand-russell-69_ideas_the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisu_124892.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The idea that the poor should have leisure has always been shocking to the rich.” — Bertrand Russell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bertrand Russell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The idea that the poor should...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisure-has-always-been-shocking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-idea-that-the-poor-should-have-leisure-has-always-been-shocking/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```